Neue Deutsche Härte

Subgenre of rock music

Neue Deutsche Härte

Rammstein on stage at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, 2004

Other names|

* New German hardness (English translation)
* NDH
* Tanzmetall
* dance-metal

Stylistic origins|

* Neue Deutsche Welle
* alternative metal
* groove metal
* electro-industrial
* techno

Cultural origins| Early-to-mid 1990s, Germany and Austria
Typical instruments|

* Vocals
* electric guitar
* electric bass guitar
* drum kit
* electronic musical synthesizer
* electronic musical keyboards
* drum machine
* music sequencer
* samples

Regional scenes

* Germany
* Austria

Other topics

* Popular music in Germany
* industrial metal
* nu metal
* industrial music
* industrial rock
* krautrock
* progressive rock
* progressive metal
* rivetheads

Neue Deutsche Härte (German: [ˈnɔʏə ˈdɔʏtʃə ˈhɛʁtə]; lit. "New German Hardness", sometimes abbreviated as NDH), also known as dance-metal,[a] is a crossover style drawing from Neue Deutsche Welle, alternative metal, groove metal, electro-industrial and techno. It developed in Germany and Austria during the early-to-mid 1990s and early 2000s. Alluding to the style of Neue Deutsche Welle, the term was coined by the music press after the 1995 release of Rammstein's first studio album Herzeleid.[1]

## Characteristics

[edit]

Neue Deutsche Härte describes a crossover style that is influenced by Neue Deutsche Welle, alternative metal and groove metal combining it with elements from electro-industrial and techno.[1] The lyrics are generally in German. NDH uses the basic setup of instruments for metal: electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals, along with keyboard, synthesizers, samples and sometimes additional percussion. Emphasis is on a demonstration of predominance, by over-pronouncing certain syllables and sounds (such as the uvular or alveolar trill). The vocals are dominantly presenting in deep, male and clean voice.[1] Some bands use screaming and death growls, which is also common, being heard in certain songs by Oomph!, Rammstein, Joachim Witt, Megaherz and Eisbrecher. NDH imagery is often strongly masculine and militaristic. Guitars are tuned low, usually to drop D or drop C, and are generally heavily distorted. The NDH style has crossed borders and its popularity has grown in recent years to such an extent that there are already bands outside Germany, such as the Spanish band Bloody Kitchen, who do not use German in their songs as usual and their lyrics are also entirely in Spanish.

## History

[edit]

The rudiments of the NDH style were established by Oomph! on their seminal second album, Sperm (1994), and by Rammstein with their first album Herzeleid (1995). In those days, Oomph!'s biggest influence were groove metal bands such as Prong, Pantera and Sepultura.[2] Rammstein, who take inspiration from a wide array of bands including Depeche Mode and Ministry, is the style's most famous and successful practitioner. NDH is especially successful in continental Europe; Rammstein have sold nearly four million records in Germany,[3] while accumulating gold and platinum records in Austria,[4] the Czech Republic,[5] Denmark,[6] the Netherlands,[7] Norway,[8] Poland,[9][10] Romania,[11] Sweden,[12] Switzerland[13] and Finland.[14]

Oomph! achieved a gold record for their 2004 "Augen auf!" single in Austria and Germany.[4][3] Eisbrecher's 2004 self-titled debut album entered at No. 13 on the Deutsche Alternative Top 20 Chart, while the group's second album (Antikörper) reached the No. 85 position on the German main chart.[15][16] Other NDH groups include Hanzel und Gretyl, L'âme Immortelle and Unheilig.

## Cultural influence

[edit]

In 2011, English comic and musician Bill Bailey parodied the Neue Deutsche Härte style by releasing a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" in the style of Rammstein.[17]

## Music

[edit]

Platz, Nym and Balanck describe Neue Deutsche Härte, in Nym's compilation Iridescent Dark, as a pronounced and powerful merging of German metal with hardcore influences and elements of techno – all coming together with the capabilities of modern music production. The instrumentation usually consists of guitars, bass guitars, drums, vocals, electronic synthesisers and sometimes drum machines. The electronic components of the instrumentation are often employed to create string arrangements, melody samples and loops, or background elements.[18]

Previous descriptions of the style of NDH make reference to it being a stylistic crossover of many different subcultures. During its first surge in popularity, NDH proved to be a music direction which made use of heavy metal and hardcore influences as well as elements of techno with German lyrics.[19] According to Martin Büsser, the style is characterised by its visual aesthetic of "searching for the best possible and most marketable midway."[20] As a result, NDH incorporates electronic sound and martial rhythm with musical elements of heavy metal, dark metal and oftentimes light amounts of rapping.[20]

Typical features such as highly technical distorted guitar riffs have been adopted from hard rock and heavy metal and are often modified post recording to add further effect to their sound. The guitar riffs are often played in staccato with a monotonous sound and are similar to those of popular modern metal from the 1990s.[19] The rhythm focused riffs resemble those of alternative metal and groove metal bands.[21] Just like groove metal, NDH bands lean towards mid-tempo riffs, which gain additional rhythm dominance through the use of syncopation. Additionally, strong distorted power chords and palm muting are typically incorporated into this style, and distorted and dominating basslines are also commonly used. The employment of electronic effects from synthesisers and keyboards are also characteristic of NDH, in which they are used to provide artificial string arrangements, melodic components and loops – both melodic hanger loops and background elements. The use of synthesisers and relatively simple rhythms is closely related to 1990s techno. The rhythm is occasionally created through the use of drum machines.[19]

The vocals are mostly performed by men using a deep voice "enunciating every syllable".[19] Female vocalists – such as Luci van Org from Übermutter, or Greta Czatlos in some releases from Untoten, are rarely represented as lead singers in the genre of NDH.

The rolled 'R' – popularised by Rammstein – is a frequently occurring feature. The vocal melody merges with the backing track and sometimes becomes Sprechgesang.[19]

## Content

[edit]

The lyrics often contain phrases laden with meaning and connotation in simple rhyme schemes that are semantically connected and often get repeated.[19] The texts are often about general topics such as love, hate, jealousy, sexuality, religion and death, with a certain tendency to break taboos by dealing with shock topics like extreme forms of sadomasochism, necrophilia, incest, cannibalism and sexual abuse of children.[19] Büsser calls this manner a gladiator show and display of masculinity that is simply based on shock.[22] Vocals, instruments and manner are intended to display strength. Bands who use indulgent militaristic aesthetics or who make ambiguous reference to Nazi Germany have been harshly criticized; Rammstein and Joachim Witt in particular have been confronted regarding this issue many times.[19] Rammstein has made several songs distancing themselves from Nazism, specifically "Links 2 3 4" and "Deutschland". A striking characteristic of the genre are the many band names that consist of conjoined nouns and that are intended to sound hard and strong when pronounced.

## Scene

[edit]

Although NDH is popular, no separate youth subculture exists. The music genre developed independently from any scenes and instead finds its listeners in various subcultures such as the heavy metal subculture or the dark culture. Popular dark culture magazines such as Orkus, Sonic Seducer and Zillo frequently feature interviews and reviews about representatives of the NDH music genre. The popularity of the genre spread especially due to many NDH bands appearing at big events showcasing a multitude of genres (indie pop, alternative rock or alternative metal festivals) such as the Wacken Open Air festival but also by holding concerts and going on tours. Rammstein for example performed as a supporting act of the band Project Pitchfork, a band situated in the dark wave genre, on their "Alpha-Omega" tour in 1995.

## Bands

[edit]

Main article: List of Neue Deutsche Härte bands

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Term used to describe NDH bands that don't sing in German

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Schmidt, Axel; Neumann-Braun, Klaus (2008) [First published 2004]. Die Welt der Gothics: Spielräume düster konnotierter Transzendenz [The World of the Gothics: Leeways of Darkly Connoted Transcendency] (in German) (2nd ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften / GWV Fachverlage GmbH. pp. 269–270\. ISBN 978-3-531-15880-8. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
2. ^ Uwe Rothhämel: Interview with Oomph! In: New Life Soundmagazine, Issue 5/94, Page 7, May 1994
3. ^ a b "Gold/Platin Datenbank durchsuchen". Die deutschen Phonoverbände. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
4. ^ a b "Gold und Platin Datenbank". IFPI Austria, Verband der Österreichischen Musik Wirstchaft. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
5. ^ "TIMELINE: October 28, 2005". RAMMSTEIN :: News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
6. ^ "Guld og platin". IFPI Danmark – IFPI.dk. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
7. ^ "Goud/Platina Muziek". nvpi. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
8. ^ "SØK I TROFÉER". IFPI Norsk platebransje. Archived from the original on 26 June 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
9. ^ "Platinium certification awards". Związek Producentów Audio-Video. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
10. ^ "Gold certification awards". Związek Producentów Audio-Video. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
11. ^ "Rammstein au primit Discul de Platina inainte de concertul din Romania". Retrieved 15 May 2015.
12. ^ "GULD & PLATINA – År 2004". IFPI. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
13. ^ "Search for: Rammstein". The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
14. ^ "Kulta - ha platinalevyt - Musiikkituottajat". Musiikituottajat. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
15. ^ "Former MEGAHERZ Duo Launch EISBRECHER". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 24 May 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
16. ^ "EISBRECHER: 'Antikörper' Enters German Chart At No. 85". Blabbermouth.net. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
17. ^ "Scarborough Fair (Rammstein Style)". Amazon UK. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
18. ^ Judith Platz, Alexander Nym und Megan Balanck (2010), Alexander Nym (ed.), "Schwarze Subgenre und Stilrichtungen", Schillerndes Dunkel (in German), pp. 144 bis 180, hier S.174f, ISBN 978-3-86211-006-3
19. ^ a b c d e f g h Judith Platz (2004), Axel Schmidt, Klaus Neumann-Braun (ed.), "Die 'schwarze' Musik", Die Welt der Gothics – Spielräume Düster Konnotierter Transzendenz (in German), VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, pp. 253 - 284, hier S. 265ff, ISBN 3-531-14353-0
20. ^ a b Martin Büsser (2001), Wie klingt die neue Mitte (in German), Ventil Verlag, p. 55, ISBN 3-930559-90-0
21. ^ Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann (1999), Letzte Ausfahrt:Germania (in German), Berlin: Jeske/Mader, p. 19, ISBN 3-931624-12-9
22. ^ Martin Büsser (2001), Wie klingt die neue Mitte (in German), Ventil Verlag, pp. 115f, ISBN 3-930559-90-0

* v
* t
* e

New wave and post-punk

Associated
genres or scenes|

* Avant-funk
* Alternative dance
* Grebo
* Art punk
* Coldwave
* Dance-rock
* Dance-punk
* New rave
* Deathrock
* Dark wave
* Ethereal wave
* Neoclassical
* Electroclash
* Electropunk
* Garage rock revival
* Gothic rock
* Indie pop
* Jangle pop
* Madchester
* Baggy
* Minimal wave
* Minneapolis sound
* Mod revival
* Neo-psychedelia
* Dream pop
* Shoegaze
* Neue Deutsche Welle
* New pop
* New Romantic
* New wave of new wave
* No wave
* Post-hardcore
* Post-punk revival
* Romo
* Sophisti-pop
* Synth-pop
* Electroclash
* Electropop
* Electropunk
* Freestyle
* 2 Tone
* Ultra
* Windmill scene

Lists|

* New wave artists
* Post-punk bands
* Synth-pop artists

Other topics|

* C86
* CBGB
* Chillwave
* Electro
* New Wave Theatre
* Neue Deutsche Welle
* Neue Deutsche Härte
* La Movida Madrileña
* Little band scene
* Punk rock
* Industrial
* Rip It Up and Start Again
* Second British Invasion
* Sounds
* Synthwave
* Vaporwave
* Yugoslavian new wave

* v
* t
* e

Industrial music

Initial scene|

* Industrial Records
* Throbbing Gristle
* Cabaret Voltaire
* Psychick TV
* Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth

Post-industrial developments|

* Dark ambient
* Electro-industrial
* Electronic body music
* Futurepop
* Japanoise
* Martial industrial
* Neofolk
* New beat
* No wave
* Witch house

Noise|

* Harsh noise
* Japanoise
* Harsh noise wall
* Power noise
* Power electronics
* Death industrial

Fusion genres / derivatives|

* Industrial hip hop
* Industrial rock
* Industrial metal
* Nu metal
* Industrial techno

Related|

* Industrial folk music (cf. neofolk)
* Rivethead
* List of industrial music bands
* List of industrial music labels
* List of industrial music festivals
* List of industrial music genres

* v
* t
* e

Heavy metal

Subgenres and
fusion genres|

* Alternative metal
* Avant-garde metal
* Beatdown hardcore
* Biker metal
* Black metal
* National Socialist
* Symphonic
* Blackened death metal
* Blackgaze
* Christian metal
* Christian death metal
* Unblack metal
* Crust punk
* Death metal
* Brutal
* Melodic
* Technical
* Deathgrind
* Death 'n' roll
* Deathcore
* Death-doom
* Funeral doom
* Djent
* Doom metal
* Drone metal
* Electronicore
* Extreme metal
* Folk metal
* Celtic metal
* Medieval metal
* Funk metal
* Glam metal
* Goregrind
* Pornogrind
* Gothic metal
* Grindcore
* Grunge
* Groove metal
* Industrial metal
* Kawaii metal
* Latin metal
* Mathcore
* Metalcore
* Melodic
* Progressive
* Neoclassical metal
* Neue Deutsche Härte
* Nintendocore
* Nu metal
* Pagan metal
* Pirate metal
* Pornogrind
* Post-metal
* Pop metal
* Power metal
* Progressive metal
* Rap metal
* Sludge metal
* Speed metal
* Stoner metal
* Symphonic metal
* Thrash metal
* Crossover thrash
* Viking metal

Musical elements|

* Bass
* Fuzz bass
* Drumming
* Blast beat
* Cymbal choke
* Gallop drumbeat
* Guitar
* Distortion
* Guitar solo
* Palm muting
* Power chord
* Shred guitar
* Lyrics
* Vocals
* Death growl
* Screaming

Notable scenes
and movements|

* African heavy metal
* Argentine heavy metal
* Australian thrash metal
* Australian heavy metal
* Bangladeshi heavy metal
* Bay Area thrash metal
* Brazilian thrash metal
* Canadian heavy metal
* Chinese heavy metal
* Florida death metal
* Hungarian metal
* Indigenous metal music
* Japanese metal
* Les Légions Noires
* New wave of American heavy metal
* New wave of British heavy metal
* Early Norwegian black metal
* Palm Desert
* Swedish death metal
* Teutonic thrash metal
* Ukrainian metal

Culture|

* Bands
* Environmentalism
* Fashion
* Festivals
* Headbanging
* Heavy metal subculture
* Poseur
* Umlaut

* Hard rock
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Alternative rock

Precursors|

* Jangle
* Punk rock
* Avant-punk
* Hardcore punk
* Post-hardcore
* Riot grrrl
* New wave
* Noise rock
* Proto-punk
* Post-punk
* Gothic rock

Styles and
fusion genres|

* Alternative country
* Gothic country
* Alternative dance
* Britpop
* Post-Britpop
* Chamber pop
* Christian alternative rock
* College rock
* Dark cabaret
* Dolewave
* Emo
* Geek rock
* Wizard rock
* Grebo
* Grunge
* Post-grunge
* Indie rock
* Indie folk
* Jangle pop
* Dunedin Sound
* Paisley Underground
* Math rock
* New rave
* Slowcore
* Industrial rock
* Industrial metal
* Latin alternative
* Madchester
* Baggy
* Mangue bit
* Neo-psychedelia
* Dream pop
* Shoegaze
* Blackgaze
* Nu gaze
* New wave of new wave
* Noise pop
* Pagan rock
* Post-punk revival
* Post-rock
* Post-metal
* Slacker rock

| Alternative metal|

* Funk metal
* Neue Deutsche Härte
* Nu metal
* Rap metal

|

Related topics|

* Alternative Airplay
* Anorak
* Artists
* C86
* Campus radio
* Independent music
* Indie pop
* Independent record label
* Lo-fi music
* Lollapalooza
* Outsider music

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Alternative metal

Subgenres|

* Funk metal
* Industrial metal
* Nu metal
* Rap metal

Fusion genres|

* Neue Deutsche Härte

Related topics|

* List of alternative metal bands
* Grunge

* Category

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